Christmas week is ahead, with its joyous gatherings with friends and family. Treasure them.
Christmas week is ahead, with its joyous gatherings with friends and family. Treasure them.
When Arlene Yonamine and Norma Yara, Hakalau “Goto Sisters” and Robert Yara agreed to participate once again in the Wailea Mochi Pounding, a great peace descended on Wailea in early June.
Arlene, Norma and Robert grew up on Chin Chuck Road in Hakalau. They are essential to mochi pounding because Arlene and Norma are “expert” mochi cutters. After years of practice, they can break off uniform sized mochi pieces from the just-pounded big silken glob of sweet rice that is still hot! Robert is an expert in knowing, by touch and appearance, when the steamed rice is cooked and ready to pound.
Everyone is invited to the 17th annual Wailea Village Mochi Pounding from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. next Sunday, Dec. 28.
Everyone can have a chance to pound mochi for good luck.
The small kine guys, the muscular guys, the young girls, the tutus, the visitors from Japan who are pounding for the first time, Grandpa next to his wheelchair, the 5-year-old whose daddy is helping him hold the “kine” the mochi hammer.
Everyone!
Come and enjoy Miyo’s classic chicken hekka $5 plate lunch, beginning at 10 a.m. Get a glimpse of what 2015 could offer and let Maile Yamanaka read your palms, or get an I Ching reading by Julie Kaneshiro, Bodhi Seales and their I Ching Ohana.
Visitors will have a chance to purchase Charlene Asato’s new year cards and crafts, ceramics by Hakalau artists Peter Black and Marion Nipper and visit the Wailea studios of painter Eve Furchgott and ceramicist Suzanne Wang.
Ken and Rayna Armour’s Orchidworks will have a variety of orchids, and every year Rayna makes certain everyone takes home a good book to ready from her extensive used book collection. Our Hakalau Senior Club will have a variety of homemade items. Jean Funai’s baby blankets have become so popular that orders have come from Honolulu after mochi pounding.
Wayne Subica’s Hawaii Plantation Museum from Papaikou will be the “watering station,” providing liquid refreshment as well as books and items from “the good old days” to refresh our hearts and souls. Gloria Kobayashi, editor of “Aloha ‘Aina Volume II, More Big Island Memories,” will be selling the book, which was dedicated in memory of our beloved Kay Yokoyama.
And on the “food front,” some of our lovely Thai ladies will be selling “snack foods,” Thai ice tea and coffee. Marina Trommer will have some delicious desserts and Anthony and Johnette Baptista will offer treats from the Kings Treats Wagon.
And of course Keri Yamamoto will be offering her massage. Keri comes every year from O’ahu to celebrate Mochi Pounding and massage all the tired and achy bodies. Norma Yara, our mochi cutter lady, made 10,000 plus mochi (well, it might have been a little less) all because Keri massaged her before making her first mochi!! Sueann Allison from Papa’aloa will also be massaging folks with Keri
And, of course, mochi pounding is only complete when there is music and dance in the Motonaga Garage Gallery.
Experience and feel the Hawaiian soul music of Lito Archangel from 9:45-11 a.m. His life commentaries are moving, kolohe and humorous, just like him. His CD also will be available.
Feel the depth of power of the traditional hula kahiko by Kumu Hula Mamo Brown’s Halau Ulumamo o Hilo Paliku from 11-11:30 a.m. And sit back and leisurely enjoy the cool jazz stylings of Leonard Kubo and Lou Ann Guerney from 11:30 a.m.-noon and again from 12:30-1:45 p.m.
Of course the high point, at noon, will be our beloved Aunty Lucille Chung of Laupahoehoe sharing her mana‘o on living our values. And then Hui Okinawa Kobudo Taiko will boom, boom, boom in the new year of the Ram, and all of Wailea and all those who came way, way before us will joyously resound and echo throughout Hamakua, with aloha, knowing we are “Living our Legacy, Living our Kuleana.” (responsibility).
Look for the mochi signs on Highway 19. Park at Hakalau Veterans Park and walk back in time.
See you next Sunday.
The Kokua Way column and yours truly are very grateful for the continuing support of our generous community and the eloquent singing of the contributing birdies throughout the year, especially today’s. Mahalo.
To reach the Kokua Way, email waiukahenutz@gmail.com or call 936-0067.